Skip to main content

Professional Etiquette in the Workplace by Brandon Figueroa




Brandon Figueroa
Professional Etiquette in the Workplace
“Professional etiquette is an unwritten code of conduct regarding the interactions among the members in a business setting. When proper professional etiquette is used, all involved are able to feel more comfortable, and things tend to flow more smoothly. Professional etiquette plays a monumental role in making a lasting positive first impression.
First Impressions in Business Etiquette:

Greetings:
Showing confidence when you greet someone for the first time gives a good first impression. Etiquette expert Emily Post suggests you should always do five things when meeting someone – look them in the eye, give a firm handshake, greet them by name, say your own name slowly and clearly; and smile. These will show the other person that you are positive and confident. Show the other person that the meeting is important to you by thanking them for meeting with you and by always having a positive attitude.

Conversation Etiquette:
To give a good first impression, make sure you do not do all the talking. One rule of thumb is to try to spend at least as much time listening as talking. Demonstrate that you are interested in the other person and what they have to say by taking the time to ask questions and listen. Maintain eye contact with the person you are talking to and give him your full attention. Make sure you are speaking clearly and loudly enough for the other person to hear – this will also show confidence.

       Body Language:
You body language is one of the first things a person will notice meeting you. If you body stance is slouched and closed, you will send the message that you are not interested in the other person. Standing straight and naturally, with your shoulders back, arms at your side and head up, indicates that you are interested and enthusiastic and ready to do business. When listening to someone, face the other person with your shoulders squared to theirs, keep your hands at your side and maintain eye contact. This demonstrates you are focusing entirely on the other person.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DEI & The Workplace

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), is a broad term that covers the issues of equality in the United States. It existed throughout the years, trying to advocate for equality amongst individuals regardless of their race, sex, or religion. Thi helps foster respect and equality in every sector of the society, ensuring that as long as a person is a citizen of the United States, they are allowed to receive the same benefits as others. In the workplace, DEI is very essential as it ensures that people are hired based on the fact that they meet the qualifications of the position they applied for, and not discriminated against by not qualifying them for unknown reasons even if they reach all other qualifications. Below are a few important reasons for DEI in the workplace:  1. The Workplace Should Reflect Today’s Emerging Workforce: Social change has historically often led to backlash, but that isn’t necessarily a good reason to retreat or pivot away from one’s DEI mandate. Today’s emerg...

To Wear or Not To Wear?: Tips on dressing for success

So, the first step is over. You finished filling out the application for the job; listing all of your work experience, answering numerous questions about your work ethic on an online questionnaire, and you even polished up your hand dandy resume! After restless nights of worrying, you finally get a call saying they would love to have you come in for an interview: now what? First, don't panic ! Finding an appropriate outfit can be intimidating, but with the help of Google it is possible. Second, the outfit you should wear is based on what type of position you are going for or what your potential company is. If it's a store like Macy's, for example, it would make sense for you to wear all black since that's the kind of uniform the employees wear.  If you're working in an office setting, then you should go either business casual or professional. When in doubt of what to wear, go with business casual! Here are a few images of what business casual and professional ou...

Career Roadmap

  A career roadmap is a strategic plan and long-term approach to career planning that provides an outline for an individual's career goals, steps needed to achieve them, and ways to manage your achievement. Creating a career roadmap has a lot of benefits, as it shows an outline that helps you navigate your professional journey, including the necessary skills, experiences and milestones to progress. Below are a few benefits of creating a career map, both to the individual and to an organization. For individuals: 1. Clarity and Direction: A career roadmap provides a clear path forward, outlining your aspirations and the steps needed to achieve them.  2. Goal Setting and Motivation: It helps you set concrete, measurable goals, keeping you motivated and focused on your professional development.  3. Skill Development: By identifying skills and competencies needed for desired roles, it helps you focus your learning and development efforts, enhancing your marketability.  4...